Our Brave New World: Essays on the Impact of September 11

Every American remembers exactly how it unfolded and where they were and what they were doing on that terrible morning of September 11. And like any other unprecedented historic jolt, September 11 continues to roil our collective mind. We still ponder the questions it raised: What changed that day? What remains of the old? What is truly new? The essays in this collection examine these and other questions, taking a sometimes sobering, sometimes uplifting look at a historic turning point in our lives. The contributors examine the challenges and dangers of our new foreign policy and the sense that we have only seen the opening stage of a long-term realignment. They also examine our domestic politics, revealing that, with the exception of national security matters, partisan considerations remain as strong as before. A look at the Islamic world after 9/11 shows how, as never before, it is understood that American assertiveness is the main deterrent against Islamist terror and a stabilizing force in an unsteady cultural sphere.

Two essays seize the opportunity September 11 has opened to reflect in the most profound sense on what it is we are fighting for--and why we are fighting despite having lost our ability to speak the language of honor. A series of memorable vignettes describes Hollywood's clueless response to September 11 and reveals how the stark reality of America attacked has shaken popular culture to its foundation. The collection concludes with an inspiring report on the response of Mayor Rudolf Giuliani and the people of New York--once again reminding us where America's real strengths lie.